Beginning on December 17, as the final phase of preparation for Christmas many monasteries will chant the O Antiphons preceding the Magnificat during Vespers.
The O Antiphons express the Church’s renewed longing and great expectation for the Messiah, her startled wonderment at the fullness of grace about to come into the world.
Each Antiphon addresses Christ by one of his messianic titles:
O Sapientia (O Wisdom), O Adonai (O Lord), O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse), O Clavis David (O Key of David), O Oriens (O Dayspring), O Rex Gentium (O King of the nations), O Emmanuel (O God with us).
For an excellent introduction to praying this 1,000 year old sequence of prayers, visit: www.newpilgrimpath.ie.